Tumors in Cetaceans: Analysis and New Findings

Abstract

1987. Tumors in cetaceans: analysis and new findings. Can. J. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 44: 1289-1308.We describe 14 tumors, including 5 leiomyomas, 6 papi?lomas, 2 adrenal adensmas, and a bronchogenic carcinoma coilected from over 1800 free-ranging and captive cetaceans examined since 1973. These bring to 41 the number of confirmable tumors reported from cetaceans. Of the 52 cases previously reported, 23 were described in sufficient detail to confirm the diagnoses, 15 were considered probable, and 4 were reclassified. Organ systems most commsnly affected were the gastrointestinal tract (31 %), skin (24%), and female reprsductive tract (21 %). Sampling bias may account for this apparent trend. Etiologic agents have rarely been identified, and attempts to do so are hampered by inadequate sample sizes.Les auteurs dbcrivent 14 tumeurs, dont 5 lkiornyomes, 6 papillsmes, 2 adkmmes des surrknales et 1 carcinome btonchog&ne, prklevkes 5 partir de plus de 1 800 cktacks libres ou captifs examines depuis 1973. Cela gsorte A 41 le nombre de tumeurs confirmables signal&s pour des cbtaces. Des 5% cas deja signal&, 23 owt 6tk dkcrits de fa~on suffisamment d6taillke pour en confirmer les diagnoses, 15 ont 6t6 considkr6s probables et 4 ont 6te reclassifies. bes organes les plus csuramrnent affect& ktaient le tractus gastrointestinal (31 %), la peau (24 %) et le tractus g6nital fernelle (21 %). Cette tendance apparente peut d'expliquer par des biais de prelevement. Les agents 6tislogiques ont rarement et# identifies et les tentatives dans ce domaine se voient lirnit6es par la taille insuffisante des 6chantiilons.

Granulosa cell tumour in a harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) from German waters

“…Systematic pathological investigations have been performed on harbour porpoises Phocoena phocoena from several different regions (Baker & Martin 1992, Siebert et al 2001, Jauniaux et al 2002, Jepson et al 2005), but only a few neoplastic diseases are reported, including a cutaneous squamous papilloma (Geraci et al 1987), one gastric adenocarcinoma with multiple metastases (Breuer et al 1989), one adenocarcinoma involving the posterior abdominal tissues with large numbers of secondary tumours on the sero sal surface (Baker & Martin 1992), an adrenal papilloma (Newman & Smith 2006) and a gastric squamous cell carcinoma (Siebert et al 2010). In this paper the morphological findings of an ovarian granulosa cell tumour in a harbour porpoise are described.…”

“…Besides granulosa cells, theca or luteinised cells and fibroblasts are found. Granulosa cell tumours have been described in a fin whale Balaenoptera physalus, a blue whale B. musculus, a short-finned pilot whale Globicephala macro rhynchus, beluga whales Delphinapterus leucas, a California sea lion Zalaphus californianus, a fur seal Callorhinis ursinis and a cape fur seal Arctocephalus pusillus (Rewell & Willis 1949, Landy 1980, Howard et al 1983, Benirschke & Marsh 1984, Martineau et al 1988, De Guise et al 1994.Systematic pathological investigations have been performed on harbour porpoises Phocoena phocoena from several different regions (Baker & Martin 1992, Siebert et al 2001, Jauniaux et al 2002, Jepson et al 2005), but only a few neoplastic diseases are reported, including a cutaneous squamous papilloma (Geraci et al 1987), one gastric adenocarcinoma with multiple metastases (Breuer et al 1989), one adenocarcinoma involving the posterior abdominal tissues with large numbers of secondary tumours on the sero sal surface (Baker & Martin 1992), an adrenal papilloma (Newman & Smith 2006) and a gastric squamous cell carcinoma (Siebert et al 2010). In this paper the morphological findings of an ovarian granulosa cell tumour in a harbour porpoise are described.…”

Mixed testicular neoplasia in a short beaked common dolphin Delphinus delphis

“…An unspecified testi cular tumor was noted by Mawdesley-Thomas (1975) in a bottlenose dolphin Tursiops truncatus. Cowan et al (1986) and Geraci et al (1987) described 2 cases of interstitial (Leydig) cell tumor in common dolphins Delphinus delphis. Estep et al (2005) reported a seminoma with metastasis to a retroperitoneal lymph node and a Sertoli cell tumor in a spotted dolphin Stenella frontalis, in which a pheochromocytoma was concomitantly observed, and a seminoma with metastasis to the mesentery in a bottlenose dolphin.…”

“…Among described neoplastic conditions in marine mammals, testicular neoplasms are infrequent (Mawdesley-Thomas 1975, Geraci et al 1987, Newman & Smith 2006. The potential for metastatic testicular neoplasia in cetaceans has been reported by Estep et al (2005).…”

Immunoblastic Malignant Lymphoma in Dolphins: Histologic, Ultrastructural, and Immunohistochemical Features

“…19,24 In a recent review, 19 only 41 confirmable tumors were reported from cetaceans. Organ systems most commonly involved were the gastrointestinal tract (31%), skin (24%), and the female reproductive tract (21%).…”